"Renounce" vs. "repudiate": where their meanings meet and diverge

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper Today, 10:57

English.me team member

Renounce and repudiate. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both "renounce" and "repudiate" involve rejecting or disowning something, such as a belief, claim, or association. They are formal verbs used to express denial or abandonment.

What is different?

Renounce typically means to formally give up or abandon something, like a right, position, or belief, often by making a public declaration. Repudiate focuses more on rejecting the truth, authority, or validity of something, sometimes implying disapproval or condemnation, and can be less about giving up ownership and more about denying connection.

Which one is more common?

Examples of usage

Renounce

She decided to renounce her claim to the inheritance.
After much consideration, he chose to renounce his citizenship.
The priest was asked to publicly renounce violence.

Repudiate

The scientist repudiated the flawed research results.
He was quick to repudiate any involvement in the scandal.
They repudiated the accusations as baseless.